Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-10
Telegrams to The Star.
GLADSTONE'S IMPORTANT CONCESSION
FOREST FIRES RAGING IN MICHIGAN
THE WHITLEY FIRE IN LONDON.
A CABLE RATE WAR LIKELY.
THE SIXTH WHITLEY FIRE.
How the Man FlOurishes i'm Spite Of
Repeated COnflaRratiOns-Thc as
10 their Cause.

Special Cable Dispatch to THE EVENING SrAr
LONDON, August l0-Whiteley's sixth fire In
nve years almost obScureS politics as topic OF
conversation. Everybody has his own theory
Whiteley Is self-made mar. Vulgar, pushing,
egotistie, he has built up an immense business
from very humble beginning. His business is
SO great and so nourtshing that even successive
connagrattons, which have converted into flame
and smoke from first to last property valued at
more than million pounds, have failed to ma
terially AFFECT his operations. What is more re-
markable is that his success has not been on ac-
count OF the connegrations, but in spite OF them
The popularity OF Whiteley's position is that he
mas oeen burned down without being insured. In
recent years, at any rate, insurance companies
have refused to accept his risks. The cause for
this 1t Is alleged is not far to seek The fires in
WhiteleyS own opinion, are the work OF an incen-
diary. In these successive burnings OF universal
PROVIDERS stores we have the vengeance OF an
enemy upon this subject. All kinds OF stories are
noatlng ABOUT. There are some who profess 10
see In 1t the revenge OF girl who has marked her
resentment at her deSertion by making a holo-
caust Less romantic but more probable is the
oelief that the fires are the work or some innum-
cradle men whom Whiteley has ruined by his
competition. Whiteley has been as bad as the CO.
operative stores In cutting down the prices OF re-
Tall tradesnen. He has invaded, step by step, al
most every branch OF retail Industry. Now there
Is M9,tmng except milk which he is not ready to
He will undertake. to provide lodgings and en-.
eeitdluMeuC IOT Netlr0neu mOnarchS. like Ceta-
wayo; provide partners for ball; 10 feed regi.
ment; TO furnish or provide a wife according to
orders received There Is nothing from collins 70
brides cakes and cradles which he is not willing
10 supply at moments notice and at prices below
those OF his neighborS. He has never advertised
ana IL Is by no means pleasure TO shop In his
enormous premises; but by sheer dint OF selling
ior cash only at the lowest possible prices he has
Dullt up a business which is one OF the wonders Of
London.
His fortune has been raised upon the bodies and
bones or his crushed and discounted rivals, who
accordingly hate him with their whole heart fer
Vently, and are to-day expressing only one re-
greet, viz: That William WhiJeley is not calcined
10 ashes along With his establishment.
person who knows WhiJeley well and has a
relative employ in his establishment says: "In
no place that know OF In London or the prov.
lnceS is there anything approaching to a whole
sale system or fines for this and for that and FOL
everything else as that which exists at Whiteleys
His whole system is one OF savage slave driving
rom TOP to bottom. Whiteley himself patrols his
establishment like roaring lion, and woe to the
luckless employe upon whom he casts his evil
eye. The result Is that the whole place is reeking
with discomfort. l verify believe it is this dis
content which finds terrible utterance In the fires
from time TO time which consume Whiteley's
goods.